Loading device for turbet or stationary guns.



LOADING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911.

Patented Mar. 10, 19m

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

M. BARTHOLDY. LOADINGDEVIOE FOR TURRET OR STATIONARY GUNS, APPLICATION PILED JUNE 19, 1911;

1,090,093. Patented Mar.10,191

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. BARTHOLDY. 7 LOADING DEVIGB FOR TURRET 0B. STATIONARY GUNS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911.

Patented Mar. 1'0, 1914;

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911.

a snare-sum 4.

M. BARTHOLDY. LOADING DEVICE FOR TURRET QR STATIONARY GUNS.

"APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911.

Patented Mar. 10, 1914.

5 sums-sum a.

UNITED STATESHPA'PENT OFFICE.

MAX BARTHOLDY, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR. GERMANY, -ASSIG1 TOR CEO FRIED. KBUPP AKTIEN'GESEIJLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY.

' LOADING DEVICE FOR TURRET OR'STATIONARY GzULl'S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1911. Serial No. 633,927.

-provements in Loading Devices for Turret or Stationary Guns, of which the following is a specification.

' The present invention relates to loading devices for turret or stationary guns provided with a hoist for transferring the ammunition into the loading line of the gun.

The object of the invention is to provide a loading device of this kind of-very simple and easilyaccessible construction.

An embodiment of .the invention is represented in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly'in section of the loading device as adapted to a gun turret with recoil-mount, together with parts ,of turret and mount, the gun being shown in highest elevation and the ammunition car in its lowest position; Fig. 2 is' a part plan view of Fig. 1, but with the gun level; Fig. 3 is a part plan'section onlines 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a vertical section on line 4-t of Fig. 1, looking to the rear, but with details in the position they would have with the on level; Fig. 5 a similar side view to Fig. 1 but showing the ammunition car in loading position; Fig. a diagrammatical representation of rope and pulleys; Fig.6 a similar side view to Fig. 5, but with the gun in lowest depression and the ammunition car in loadlng position. The remaining views are in larger scale. .Fig. 7 shows the ammunition car and the part of its track in an end view corresponding to Fig. 4, but the details being represented in aposition they would have .whenthe gun is in highest elevatlon; Fig. 8 a right hand elevation of Fig, 7 partly in section; Fig. 9 a left hand section on line 9-9 of Fig. 7; Fig. 10 a section on line 10-10 of Fig.7 seen from above; Fig. 11 a side view of the ammunition car,partly in section, with the details in the same position as in Fig. 6. Fig. 12 shows a detail of difieren't construction.

A description of the invention embodied in- Figs. 1 to 11 will now be given. flhe upper 1 platform a of the-mount A '(Figsfl, 5 and 6) supports'the armor plate dome A of the turret and the two cheeks A wherein the gun cradle B with the gun barrel C rests with its horizontal trunnions b in the trunnion bearings. The mount rests with a ball race on top of the'structural cylinder 0, as shown in the drawing, and can be turned thereon around its vertical axis, by means of a training gear. Said gear and the elevating gear may be of any well known kind of construction; neither are therefore shown in the drawing. The'pist'on' that said housing E may .be swung sidewise out of the vertical plane of ,the guns loading ,line. }With the same object in view the rammer housing E is further provided with a jaw 6 grippin' a table edged of the cross-piece 0Z sai edge d being curved concentric with the pivot 12.

Each of the two parallel arms of the fork D are supplied with a journal (i near the cross-piece d Pivoted on each journal d", is a T-shaped rail F (see also Fig. 10), guided in aT-shaped groove of another rail F partly inclosing said railF. These latter rails F are in their turn, hung on journals f in bearings on a trestle G, which rests on the loading platform a*. The rails F and F vserve'as track for .the ammunition car H, carrying aloadin tray K.

f The ammunition car (see Figs. 7 to 1 1) is constructed of steel plates, riveted together and provided with eight track wheels J running on the two rail pairs F F The tires of said wheels haveproj e'cting guide flanges i in the middle, which engage with the rails F F to provide a sure guiding of the ammunition car H. This is best illus trated in Fig. 10. The ammunition car has two bearing blocks 72. on which the loadin tray K is mounted to swing on its ourna H. The loading tray is adapted to .hold the whole of ammunition of a shot for cartridge and main. cartridge) simultaneously.

Patented Mar. 10,1914.

To bring the ammunition up from the magazine, situated below the loading platform 0 up to a loading table T on said platform, a'hoist is utilized of which T is the trunk. From said hoist, the ammunition can slide over'the inclined loading table T onto the loading tray K, when the ammunition car H stands in its lowest position, with the loading tray at one end resting with its bottom on the recess 6 of the loading table T and at the other end with its stop plate on a ledge of the trestle G.

With the loading tray in this position, the axis of its journal. 7: fall in line with the axis of the rail journals 7".

At its forward end the loading tray K carries two arms is reaching downward,

having at their free end each a cylindrical projection is. Said projections 72 are intended to cooperate with ledges (Z on the fork D,-when the ammunition car H has been transferred to the loading position (Figs. 5 and 6). The cross-piece d of the fork-D has a recess in the middle of its under side (see Fig. 4;) the walls (Z of said recess constituting a stop for the stop [a of the loading tray K. With the projections against the ledges d, and the stop 70 against the walls d of the recess (Figs. 5' and 6) the axis of the tray journals [0 coincides with the axis of the journals d At the innerside of the forward wall of the ammunition car are situated two guides h, each having a groove k parallel with the rails F, F. The reduced ends of journals m situated on a carrier M engage said grooves h. At right angles to the axis of said journals, and on the same carrier M, is pivoted a rope pulley N. To each of the journals m is attached one end of a link L, the other end being ivo-ted on an eye 70 on the bottom wall of t e loading tray K. The rear wall of the ammunition car has a supporting surface h on which the bottom wall of the loading tray is resting, while the journals m stop against the upper end of the grooves k Near the two side walls of the ammunition car H and at its upper end, two rope pulleys N are j'ournaled in such a manner, that their grooves lie in the same plane as the groove of the pulley N. A transmission rope P is swung around the pulleys N, N and conducted to the rope drum P (see Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 6) of a hoisting device situated on the hoist trunk T, by a set of pulleys Q, to Q arranged in pairs (see Figs. 2, 3 and 4;). In using the term rope in the specification and claims I meanto include an equivalent flexible connection.

a The conducting of the rope P to the drum P is accomplished in the following manner? The rope is placed on the-under sideof the pulley N and on the outside of the pulleys N From said pulleys N onward, both rope halves run parallel with the rails F, F until turned over the two pulleys Q, in the immediate neighborhoodof the journals d on the fork D. The rope is, from there on, carried bymeans of two pairs of pulleys, one pair Q of which is. ournaled on the fork D, and the other Q directly. on the cradle B, to two pulleys Q journaled on the trunnions 6 The two pairs of pulleys Q} and Q have been provided, in orderto prevent the rope interfering with the accessibility of the breech closure. From pulleys Q the rope is taken over a pair of pul-. leys Q}, journaled at the forward end of the cradle B, in approximately vertical direction to two pulleys Q. Said pulleys Q as well as two other pairs of pulleys Q, and Q are carried on two bearing brackets a, situated on the underside of the middle platform a! of the mount A. From pulleys Q the rope P is lastly carried over pulleys Q), under pulleys Q], and over pulleys Q, to the drums P of thehoisting device. The two drums P are mounted on a common .shaft 11%, which is coupled to the motor, not

shown.

Between the bearing brackets a underneath the platform a the piston rod 7', of a hydraulic bufi'er is attached; the cylinder of said bufler being called R, and the piston 95 For transferring the hydraulic fluid from one side of the piston to the other, canals a are provided in the piston 1 From end to end a groover is cut on the inside of the cylinder R, engaging a key (not 109 shown) on the piston. This arrangement has been made. in order to prevent any turning of the cylinder. On the cylinder head 1' are situated two rope pulleys Q}, which lie in the same planes as the other pulleys Q, Q}, Q}, etc. The cylinder R is thus suspended on the rope P, by means of the pulleys Q The weight of said cylinder is chosen so as to keep the ropetaut, at all mutual'positions of the parts, without'rais 110 ing the ammunition car H with the loading tray K.

With the n C in highest elevation and the ammunition car H in its lowest position, the different parts willtake the relative posi- 113 tion indicated in Figs. 1 and 7 to 10. The loading tray K is there shown resting with its bottom both on the recess t of the loading table T and on the supporting surface h? of the ammunition car H; as well as with 120 its stop plate is on the ledge 91 of the trestle G." The axis of the journals f situated on the rails F coincides with the axis of the loading tray journals k. The journals m of the carrierv Mfor the pulleys N are rest- 125 -ing againstthe upper end faces of the guide grooves h provided in the guide pieces h,-

and the rails F are entirely inclosed by the rails F The cylinder R is in its lowest posiv tion relative to the piston 1' and keeps the 1,30

- rope taut. If now, by means of the elevating gear, the elevation of the in is changed, the ra1ls F, journaled to the 01"}: D, will-be disi, placed, upward, relative to the rails F The rails F, F, together with the ammunition car H, simultaneously execute a slight rock- -on account of the axis of the tray journals 70 at the lowest position of the ammunition car, coinciding with the axis of the journals 1?. As a consequence, ammunition from the trunk T maybe loaded on the tray K, while the gun is belng elevated. As, however, the ammunition car H oscillates around the axis of the journals P, as described above, when the elevation of the gun is changed, a slight movement of the journals m in the guide grooves h will take place. Simultaneously,

the supporting surface h of the ammunition car will move away slightly from the bottom of the loading tray. If also, the gun barrel be elevated slightly out of the position indicated in Fig. 1 or finally moved to its full depression as shown in Fig. 6, the brake cylinder R ,Wlll be raised by means of the rope P and the pulleys Q}, as thereby the distance between pulleys Q, and the pulley N of the ammunition car, which is being kept at its lowest position by its weight, is increased with the gun in lowest depression, the rails F, F and the cylinder R will take the relative positions shown in Fig. 6. If the elevation of the gun is altered from its depressed position, the cylinder R will again run down.

In pointing .the gun, the rope P will, therefore, constantly be 'held taut by the cylinder R.

\Vhen it is desired to transfer the ammuni= tion, placed on the loading tray K, into ,the loading line of the gun, the hoisting gear P, p is set in motion. Supposing now that the gun lies in an elevation that doesnot require the cylinder R to be in its highest position; in starting the hoisting gear, the

' cylinder R will then be raised to its highest position, whereupon the ammunition car will be carried upward on the rails F, F. The passing of the cylinder fluid from one side of the piston 1' to the other, through the canals 1' willadd a load on the rope P, considerably greater than the one caused by the weight of the brake cylinder alone. As a consequence the resistance to movement, which obtains from raising the loaded ammunition oar, following the raising of the cylinder R, does not suddenly increase the strain on the rope to such an extent that the rope will break. If the gun lies in lowest depression before the starting of'the hoisting gear, the cylinder R then assumes its highest P it on, but; a y danger-3f b ea ng t rope in raising the ammunit on car will'still be eliminated, as the hoist motor is started slowly, and. the rope consequently receives a gradual increase of its load.

In raising the ammunition car H, the car and the loading tray K will be in the relative positions shown principally in Figs. 7 to 9. The rope P, b means of the pulleys N, the carrier M, an the loading tray'in such a position, that the journals m rest against the upper end of the guide groove h and that the loading tray rests with its bottom on the supporting surface it of the ammunition car. Toward the end of the travel upward of the ammunition car, the projections is on the tray arms A? will strike against the ledges d of the fork D. In consequence, the loading tray will be forced to swing around its journals is until the projectile lying in the middle portion of the traylies in the loading line, in case the tray should happen to have a different inclination relative to the ammunition car than the gun. With the loading tray in this position, the stop plate thereof will rest against the recess walls (5 of the fork crosspiece' d The ammunition may then be rammed into the gun by means of the raminer E, e driven by a motor; or by hand after the rammer has been swung to the side around its pivot e 5. When the ammunition car has taken up the position lllustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the axis of the tray journals 70 will, as mentioned above, coincide with the axis of'the journals d that connect the rails F with the fork D. These circumstances together with the action of the pairs of pulleys Q Q on the position of the rope P which willbe explained further on will cause the loading tray to remain in the loading line of the gun, while the elevation of the gun is being changed and that the ammunit-ion consequently may be rammed even when the gun is being elevated or depressed.

The following will explain the action of the pulleys Q Q 'on the position of the rope :JWhen the ammunition can is in the loading position and the elevation of the gun is being changed, the angular position of the loading tray relative to the a.mmu-' nition car will also change, as will be understood from Figs. 5 and 6, in consequence of the cocperation between the roject-ions k and theledges P, on the one and; and "the stop plate 70 and the recess walls 01 on the other hand, in such a direction that the ournals m will be pushed downward in the guide grooves h? by the links L when the breech end of the gun is raised. As the pulley N always must follow the movement done by the roller pairs Q and Q}, as, while raising the breech end of the gun, the rope P, on the one hand, will partly unwind from I the pulleys Q and on the other hand, the

" lines indicate the position with the gun in highest elevation, and the dotted lines indicate the position with the gun in deepest depression. Should the breech end of the gun be lowered, the journalsm will, on the contrary, move upward in the guide grooves 72. If provision was not then made for I taking up the slack of the rope by means the cylinder R. The lettin of the described arrangement of the pulleys Q and Q, the ammunition car would move downward, and the position of the loading tray K as regards the gun would change. That this does not take place will again be seen from Fig. 5*.

After the ramming of the ammunition into the gun, the motor of the hoisting gear P 29 will be started to lower the ammunition car. If the gun is not to have the lowest depression imparted to it, the ammunition car will be lowered first, and then down of the ammunition car may there ore take place directly after the loading, since the rammer is situated above the hoist, and before the rammer has been retracted from the gun chamber. No explanation of the working in other respects of the above described arrangement, will be necessary.

With the arrangement as indicated in Fig.

12, the pulleys Q are attached to a hollow member S, which is carried on a rod 8 secured under the' platform a. A strong spring U is inserted between the hollfiw T is member S and a head 8 on the rod 8 arrangement operates practically in the same manner as the above described fluid brake R, r 1".

Without changing the substance of the invention, the rope P might be run in a-single line from the ammunition-car H to the hoisting gear P [2 The pulleys Q, Q to Q would then be used singly and notin pairs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, a track for said car, said track being constructed of telescopic rails and journaled respectively on'a gun part that partakes of the elevation and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training. I

2. A loading-device for turret or stationary guns, provided withan ammunition car hoist, for placing the '.a r nmunition- -in the.

3. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails (2011- structed to form a track for the ammunition car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, a loading tray journaledto oscillate on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel'with the axis of the gun trunnions.

' 4. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of 'the training, the axes of the journals runniiig parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, a loading device provided with an ammunition car hoist for placing the ammunition in the. loading aryguns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a art of the mount that partakes of the training, the axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, a loading device provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the'gun, a loading tray journaled on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, said tray when inthe position to receive the ammunition, having its axis of oscillation coinciding with the axis of oscillation of the journals connecting said rails with the mount.

6. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition 1n' the. loading line of the gun, telescopic ra1ls constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a art of the mount that partakes of the training, the axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, a loading deline of the gun, a loading tray journaled on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel with the axis of: the gun trunnions', said loading tray, when situated in the loading line of the gun, having its axis of oscillation coinciding with the axis of oscillation of the journals connecting said rails with said gun part.

7. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the I ammunition in the loading line of the gun, a track for said car formed by telescopic rails journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, a loading tray journaled to oscillate on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, and means carried respectively by said tray and by a gun partpartaking of the elevation of the gun, eoiiperating to accurately determine the loading position of said loading trzi.

8. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, a track for said ear formed by telescopic rails journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation and on a part of the mount that artakes of the training, a loading tray ournaled to oscillate on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, said tray. being provided with striking surfaces cooperating with striking surfaces on a, gun part that partakes of the elevation of the gun, for the urpose of accurately determining the loa ing position of said loading tray.

9. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, a loading tray j ournaled on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, a hoisting rope for the ammunition car, and a-member connecting the rope with the ammunition car and mounted to slide on the ammunition car, and having a connection with said loading tray through which it is made to partake of the movement of the tray relative to the ammunition car.

10. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with'an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed ,toform a track for said car, and journaled respectively-on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, the.

axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the 'gun trunnions; a hoisting rope, and rope guiding means mounted costructed to form a tracklfor said car, and. ournaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, the axes of the journals running parallel with the axis 'of the gun trunnions, a hoisting rope for the ammunition car, a pulley on each side of the gun for said hoisting rope, journaled co-axially with the gun trunnions.

12. A loading device, for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, a loading tray journaled on the ammunition car, the axis of the journals of said tray running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions, a hoisting rope for the ammunition car, and a member connecting the rope with the ammunition car and mounted to sllde on the ammunition car, and having a connection with said loading tray through which it is made to partake of the movement of the tray relative to the ammunition car, pulleys for the rope journaled coaxially with the gun trunnions and guiding means for the hoisting rope, moved with the elevating movementof the gun and locat'edto' tighten or slacken the hoisting rope as the angle of elevation is changed, an amount corresponding to that which the rope is slackened or tightened between sa1d connecting member and the pulleys ournaled on the trunnion axis; 4

13. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mountthat partakes of the training, the axes of'the journals running parallel w1th the axis of the gun trunnions; a rope tlghtening member, said member carrying means for guiding the hoist rope and maintaining the hoist rope taut, while the elevation of the gun is'being changed.

14. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in ,the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails con structed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and, on a part of the mount that partakes ofthe training, the axes of the journals. running parallel with the axis of the gun, trunnions, .a rope tightening member, said member carrying means Jae-s for guiding the hoist rope, normally tending i to move in the direction to take up slack in the hoist rope, and maintaining the hoist rope taut while the'elevation of the gun is being changed.

15. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails conpartakes of the elevation, and on a structed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that art of the mount that partakes of the training, the axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions; a rope tightening member, said member carrying means for guiding the hoist rope, normally tending to move in the direction to take up slack in the hoist rope, and maintaining the hoist rope taut while the elevation of the gun is bemg changed and having means for resisting sudden movement.

16. A loading .device for turret'or statlonary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loadmg line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and

mg a hydraulic brake having one of its car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that members carried by the gun mount, and the otlier suspended by the hoist rope.

17. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, the. 'axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions; and said gun part on which the telescopic rails are journaled, having a rearward extension, forming a chain rammer seat.

18. A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, the axes of the journals running parallel With the axis of the gun trunnions; and said-gun partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, the

axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions; and said gun part on which the telescopic rails are journaled, having a rearward extension, forming a chain rammer seat, and a chain rammer housing carried on said seat and extending forward over the gun, and adapted to be swung laterally out of the loading line of the gun when the rammer-is not in use.

20.- A loading device for turret or stationary guns, provided with an ammunition car hoist, for placing the ammunition in the loading line of the gun, telescopic rails constructed to form a track for said car, and journaled respectively on a gun part that partakes of the elevation, and on a part of the mount that partakes of the training, the axes of the journals running parallel with the axis of the gun trunnions; and said gun part on which the telescopic rails are jour- L naled, having a rearward extension, forming a chain rammer seat, and a chain rammer housing carried on said seat and extending forward over the gun, pivoted to the cradle by its forwardly extending portion, and

adapted to be swung laterally out of the loading line of the 'gun when the rammer is not in use.

The foregoing specificatlon signed at Barmen, Germany, this 29th day of May, 1911.

MAX 'BARTHOLDY. [1). s.]

In presence of ALBERT F. NUFER, ALFRED- HENKEL. 

